Tauranga council elections: Your essential guide

Tauranga will soon have its say on who will be running their city for the first time in nearly five years.

Candidates for the Tauranga City Council election have been announced after nominations closed last week.

Fifteen hopefuls are vying for the mayoralty, with the election on July 20.

Electoral officer Warwick Lampp said there were 86 candidates in total.

This year’s election will be under a new governance model with a mayor and nine councillors to be elected.

Candidates will be standing in the eight local wards and the Māori ward, Te Awanui.

Some mayoral candidates are also standing in the local wards.

It will also be the first time the city has had a Māori ward, which will cover the entire city.

People enrolled to vote on the Māori electoral role will be able to vote for a candidate in this ward as well as the mayor.

Voters on the general role will vote for a candidate in their local ward plus the mayor.

Special voting begins on June 20 and will close at midday on July 20.

The council elected in 2019 were discharged of their duties in late 2020 by then Local Government Minister Nania Mahuta because of infighting and significant governance issues.

The four-person commission led by Anne Tolley took over in 2021. Mahuta extended the commission’s term in 2022, until July this year.

Tauranga’s election is out of sync with the council election cycle, so the new mayor and councillors will have a four-year term ending in 2028, rather than the usual three-year term.

Olympic rowing gold medallist Mahé Drysdale said he wants Tauranga to be known as “New Zealand’s best small city”. The financial advisor lives in Cambridge but grew up in Tauranga and said he wants the city to fulfil its potential.

Born and raised in Tauranga, singer Ria Hall was the first to officially put her hat in the ring for mayor.

If elected, Hall said, she would bring her energy to the role and focus on infrastructure, transport, environment and creating a more connected, cohesive society. She is also running in the Pāpāmoa ward.

Former deputy mayor Tina Salisbury says the city needs to move forward, and it needs decisive leadership. Her priorities include addressing the housing shortage, building a connected city through transport and infrastructure, and fostering collaboration.

Greg Brownless, who was mayor from 2016-2019, said he would bring experienced leadership along with business skills and a community heart to get Tauranga moving forward responsibly. He said he's done the hard learning and can effectively begin the mayoral role immediately.

Former Bay of Plenty Regional Councillor Doug Owens said his vision is deeply rooted in a commitment to his hometown. If elected he would "review the current operations and the work completed and planned by the commissioners and council management".

Former councillor John Robson retired at 40 after an international management consulting career. He was first elected to council in 2013, serving a term, then won a by-election in 2018 and was elected again in 2019. He said: “Until we elect a council capable of, and committed to, developing a strategic, sustainable, and fully funded plan, growth will continue to blight rather than benefit Tauranga."

Candidates for the 2024 Tauranga City Council election:

Tanya Bamford-King

Aureliu Braguta

Greg Brownless

Andrew Caie

Mahé Drysdale

Anthony Goddard

Chudleigh Haggett

Ria Hall

Donna Hannah

Hori BOP

Tim Maltby

Jos Nagels

Douglas Owens

John Robson

Tina Salisbury

Suaree Borell

Ashley Hillis

Mikaere Sydney

Sarah-Jane Bourne

Rick Curach

Anthony Goddard

Teresa Killian

Adrienne Pierce

Kim Renshaw

Jeroen Van der Beek

Andrea Webster

Harris Williams

Mike Williams

Charlene Apaapa

Shelley Archibald

Felicity Auva’a

Darren Gilchrist

Gerry Hodgson

Jos Nagels

Bevan Rakoia

John Robson

Kevin Schuler

Tanya Bamford-King

Ronald Chamberlain

Glen Crowther

Suzie Edmonds

Cam Holden

Jim McKinlay

Basie Pikimaui

Ken Patterson

Tenby Powell

Kim Pritchard

Mike Rayner

Zach Reeder

David Tank

David Webb

Heidi Hughes

Garth Mathieson

Teresa Nichols

Michael O'Neill

Jacqueline Pointon

Jen Scoular

Peter Stanley

Bryan Archer

John Bowden

Phillip Coleman

Ria Hall

Tim Maltby

Steve Morris

Maaka Nelson

Craig Purcell

Shelley Robb

Andrew Caie

Mark Decke

Chudleigh Haggett

Reihana Marx

Terry Molloy

Jim Smith

Abraham van Berkel

Rod Taylor

Barbara Turley

Murray Guy

Larry Baldock

Marten Rozeboom

Stephen Wheeler

Hautapu Baker

Aureliu Braguta

Ethan Brinkman

Robert Coe

Donna Hannah

Cameron Templer

May 24: Nominations for candidates closed

June 29-July 3: Voting papers delivered

June 29: Special voting begins

July 17: Last day to post your voting form

July 19: Last day to enrol and be able to vote

July 20: Election day, voting closes at 12pm

July 20: Preliminary results announced

More on this topic

Musician Ria Hall throws hat in Tauranga mayoralty race

Award-winning singer-songwriter Ria Hall announced her candidacy to run for mayor of the city at the upcoming local body elections.

Te Ao Māori

May 6, 2024

Olympian Mahé Drysdale reveals he's running for Tauranga mayor

The sporting legend explained why he believed a former rower was the best candidate to become Tauranga's leader.

Politics

May 19, 2024

8:42

July 23-25: Final results due

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air